453
36
with other Crown lands, the land virtually belongs to the colony, subject to its occupation by the military authorities, and if that occupation ceases, the power of the Governor to sell the land for the benefit of the colony becomes absolute and complete. The colony, therefore, has rights in the land which cannot but be of considerable value, and if it is sought to sell this land to other persons, the colony will no doubt claim the full price of these, so to say, reversionary rights, of which any competent actuary could doubtless assess the amount.
7. The colony may be willing to pay to the military the price of their occupation rights, so as to acquire complete power over the land and to recoup itself by a sale, but this is a different thing from consenting to give up without compensation their own reversionary rights, whether in favour of the Admiralty or a private person. Especially would this be the case in the present scheme, by which the colony is expected to give up gratuitously other sites of great value, which it is proposed to leave out of calculation in estimating the amount of the colonial contribution to the new barracks.
8. Lord Knutsford understands that the Surveyor-General's calculations in connection with the Praya extension are based upon the value of the land as sites for Chinese houses, see paragraph 15 of the Surveyor-General's Report of 2nd January 1889, and if the prohibition against building such houses is insisted on, the calculations will require revision. His Lordship will, therefore, be glad to know on what basis the valuation ordered has been directed to be made; and it seems to him only fair that any loss which the colony sustains by reason of this prohibition, which is against the wishes of the colony, should be made good from army funds, or in some other way. He would further hope that if the North Barracks are sold this prohibition may be wholly or partially withdrawn.
9. If it is proposed that the whole proceeds of any lands sold, whether to the colony, the Admiralty, or to a private person, are to be devoted to the new barracks, Lord Knutsford will of course give his best assistance to any arrangement that may be arrived at with his concurrence, but before anything further is done, he will be glad if Mr. Stanhope will consider the foregoing observations and favour him with a short statement of the scheme as now contemplated.
10. Mr. Stanhope will doubtless remember that land in Hong Kong is never sold in fee simple, but on long leases which retain to the Crown a power of resumption under certain conditions.
The Under Secretary of State,
War Office.
I am, &c.,
JOHN BRAMSTON
37
is proposed to part with, hatched in red, viz., North Barracks, commissariat buildings, east married quarters, and Spring Gardens.
I am to observe that the decision with regard to the commissariat buildings must not be considered as absolutely definite.
The Secretary to the Admiralty, S.W.
D.W. 5232.
Sir,
I have, &c.,
H. G. DEEDES.
Admiralty to War Office.
Admiralty,
27th December 1889.
2
4300'
2
4310
With reference to your letter, 5th December, Hong Kong on the subject of Hong Kong the proposed sale of War Department property in Victoria, I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request that the Secretary of State for War will be so good as to inform them on what terms the War Department would transfer the site of the North Barracks to the Admiralty.
The Under Secretary of State for War.
Sir,
I am, &c.,
R. D. AWDRY.
War Office to Admiralty.
War Office, London, S.W.,
10th January 1890.
I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that it is not possible at the present time to give the value of the site of North Barracks, Hong Kong; but that a report on the subject has been called for from the station.
The Colonial Government will probably require a portion of the site consisting of a strip 150 feet wide on the west side of the barracks from Queen's Road to the sea.
strip
I am to add that, as soon as the report shall have been received from the station, a further communication will be addressed to you on the subject.
I have, &c.,
The Secretary to the Admiralty, S.W.
H. G. DEEDES.
Hong Kong
2
1800
D.W. 5144.
Sir,
Admiralty to War Office.
Admiralty,
1st November 1889.
I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to inform you that they understand that the War Office propose to part with certain plots of land at Hong Kong, and as the acquisition of the land by the Admiralty at that station is of the utmost importance for the efficiency of the naval establishments there, I am to request that the Secretary of State for War will give my Lords the refusal of any property of whatever description which the War Department may have for disposal, either at Victoria or at Kowloon.
The Under Secretary of State for War.
I am, &c.,
EVAN MACGREGOR.
D.W.
390 299
Sir.
Admiralty to War Office.
Admiralty,
17th January 1890. Hong Kong 2, I am commanded
With reference to your letter of the 10th January, 4310
by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to state that the strip of land alluded to, situate between Queen's Road and the sea, may be of very great value to the Admiralty, and their Lordships beg that the Secretary of State for War will be so good as to direct that it is not to be disposed of to the Colonial Government until the Admiralty have had the refusal of it.
The Under Secretary of State for War, War Office.
I am, &c.,
EVAN MACGREGOR.
Sir,
War Office to Admiralty.
War Office, London, S.W.,
5th December 1889.
With reference to your letter of the 1st ultimo, respecting the proposed sale of War Department property in Hong Kong, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit herewith a plan showing the War Department property in Victoria that it
Sir,
War Office to Admiralty.
War Office, London, S.W.,
28th January 1890. D.W. 390
respecting the pro- With reference to your letter of the 17th instant,
299 posed sale of War Department property at Victoria, Hong Kong, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit, for the information of the Lords Commissioners
I
(247)
4314